Insecticide



Patented Aug. 12,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,425,530 ,INSEOTICIDE Edward Harvill,Yonkers, N. Y., assignor to Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research,Inc., a

chloroform or alcohol, for use as an insecticide in my invention. Myinvention provides an insecticidal composition comprising an extract ofblack pepper and pyrethrin extracts 0r dusts.

Insecticidal compositions containing pyrethrin are widely used incombating insect pests. The pyrethrins are usually dissolved in asolvent base of. the hydrocarbon or mineral oil type, such as kerosene,naphtha, etc. The pyrethrins produce a rapid paralyzing action whichwears on gradually and the killing eflect is not eflective. Insecticidalcompositions containing pyrethrins have produced good results incombating household flies and the like but many of these compositionsare prohibitively costly in view oi. the relatively large amount ofexpensive pyrethrinrequired.

The extracts of black p pp r may be used in various solvent or carrierbases of the hydrocarbon or mineral oil types, either alone or incompositions, including pyrethrins. Petroleum sprays of the inventioncomprising black pepper extracts and only relatively small amounts of:methrins give unusual results in both the percent of knockdown and thepercent of kill, 01' common flies.

The eiiectiveness of black pepper extracts as insecticides isillustrated by the following tests determined by the Standard Peet-Gradymethod with five-day old flies, as described on pages 92 to v 98 ofPyrethrum Flowers," by C. B. Gnadinger,

1936 edition:

corporation oi New York No Drawing. Application December 26, 1942,Serial No. 470,224

2 Claims. (Cl. 167-24) '1 l 2 This invention relates to insecticides forcombating insect pests, such as flies, moths. aphids, Purified beanbeetles and the like, and has for its object Example Conc.Pyg fi g g'Per cent W the provision of an improved insecticidal com- No. f figg' oiBlack Flies E 33 Kill position. 5 g 1 5K111 I have found that thealkaloid piperine, which is extractable from black pepper, is extremelyA 0,10 1,096 100 mg toxic to insects and may be used with exceptional 3.1 g. g 33.2 3. killing efllciency, especially When in combinations 3 50: 5 03 16 9 with pyrethrins. This toxic constituent of black 1 4 -05 41100 922 pepper may conveniently be recovered by extraction with suchorganic solvents, as ether, acetone, The foregoing examples illustratethe knockdown power of pyrethrins and the relatively ineffective killingpower at the concentrations used. They also illustrate the efl'ectiveknockdown and killing power of compositions containing very smallquantities of both pyrethrin and p pp r extract. It is apparent that acomposition 0! the two substances in a single spray gives a rapid par lyin ction as shown by the percent of knockdown and great toxicity asshown by the percent 01' kill.

Iclaim:

1. A contact insecticidal composition comprising piperine and pyrethrinin a liquid spray base 01' petroleum origin.

2. A contact insecticidal composition comprisin: piperine extracted fromblack pepper and pyrethrin in a liquid spray base of petroleum origin.

EDWARD HARVIIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent: l

'UNTI'ED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 593,990 Deming Nov. 23, 18972,285,950 Sullivan June 9, 1942 2,326,350 Gertlen Aug. 10, 1943 OTHERREFERENCES McIndoo, U. s. n. A. Bulletin No. 1201, March 19, 1924, page48.

